by Todd Betzold

The live shows kicked off last night on The X Factor and for the first time we saw our new co-hosts, Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez, take the stage. They introduced all 16 of the acts, who performed in hope of making it to the Top 12 next week and that is where America votes to send the acts homes. One from each category goes home tonight, but who will it be?

We start out looking back at the Young Adults and Demi Lovato's category. The four singers, Paige Thomas, Jenell Garcia, CeCe Frey and Willie Jones, come to the stage to find out what two are in the Top 12 and what two will have to sing for their lives tonight. Demi picks Jenell and Paige for the Top 12, so CeCe and Willie have to sing for survival.

CeCe sings first and she comes out looking determined to do this. It was a weird performance and she has a strong voice, but it was struggling at spots for me. She is good and I have grown to like her, but I am torn because I like Willie too. The judges all loved it and wish she would have done this last night.

Willie comes out and does a decent job, but I think he peaked at his audition song. He is great, but has that deep voice that sounds good with only certain songs and I was kind of bored. The judges like him, but want to see him to do better than what he has done. It is up to Demi though and she sends Willie home and CeCe makes it to the Top 12.

Now time for the Over 25s and L.A. Reid's category. The four singers, David Correy, Vino Alan, Jason Brock and Tate Stevens, take the stage. L.A. sends Vino (ugh) and Tate into the Top 12, so David and Jason will sing for survival.

David is up first and he sings with so much emotion and is very good, but I thought he did the same thing last night. Demi and Simon thought it was screamed and a little too melodramatic. Jason comes out and I just like this guy and he has a solid voice, so I am rooting for him. Simon thought last night was a wreck, but this was a million times better but neither of them performed good enough to win it all. L.A. sends David home and Jason moves on to the Top 12.

Britney Spears is up next with the Teens: Arin Ray, Diamond White, Beatrice Miller and Carly Rose Sonenclar. I have always stated that I am not a fan of Arin since he was on last season, so let's send him home Britney! Britney sends Beatrice and Carly Rose to the Top 12, so Arin and Diamond will sing for survival.

Arin is first and he does a good job and is impressive. The judges think it would be a shame to see him go. Diamond sings and rocks it out and is such a good singer. The Teens might be one of the strongest categories, so it is difficult to send any of them home, but buh bye Arin! The judges think she should stay as well, but that can't happen. Britney sends Arin to the Top 12, so Diamond heads home.

The last category of the night is the Groups and Simon Cowell. The Groups are Sister C, Lyric 145, 1432 and Emblem3. He sends Emblem3 and Lyric 145 to the Top 12, so 1432 and Sister C will sing for survival.

I think Sister C are some pretty girls and they have sung pretty good all season, but I was not a fan of their survival performance. Britney says she is pleasantly surprised with every critique. For 1432, they can all sing, but it sounded like an individual performance and not a group performance. They did this at Simon's house also and made it through to the live shows, but they need to harmonize more and not just sing one at a time. Simon sends 1432 to the live shows and Sister C heads home.

What do you think of the judges' choices tonight?

The X Factor airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c on FOX.

(Image courtesy of FOX)

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